Annual bean dinner fundraiser menu expands

Guests fill their plates at the 2011 Religious Coalition for Community Renewal Beans and Cornbread Dinner, held at Temple Israel. The 2012 event will be held Nov. 15 at Baptist Temple.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The Religious Coalition for Community Renewal has provided shelter for homeless men who need transitional housing for 25 years. In celebration of the anniversary, Coalition organizers are mixing it up Nov. 15 at its annual Beans and Cornbread Dinner. Longtime event cook Margaret Easton has served a traditional menu of beans, potatoes, cornbread, greens and desserts for the fundraiser for eight years. This year, guests will dine tapas-style from items prepared by chefs from Edgewood Country Club and Bridge Road Bistro.

"We'll have different stations and people can move around and choose whatever they want. Desserts will be made by the same individuals who are baking for the Silent Auction," said executive director Debra Payne. Each baker will prepare two desserts -- one to serve and one to sell.

The chefs were asked to prepare a menu that incorporates beans, a starch, greens and cornbread.

"So, if you taste something and say, 'I'd like to make that,' you'll have the recipe," said Bill Hairston, Coalition outreach coordinator.

The annual dinner is the Coalition's largest fundraising event. Profits benefit Samaritan House, transitional housing for homeless men. Previous dinners have raised as much as $40,000.

"The guys pay a fee to live there, but it doesn't come near to covering the costs," said Payne.

The dinner relies heavily on donations for food service companies, participating restaurants and volunteers from the 32 congregations that make up the Coalition. Volunteers sell tickets, prepare food, bake desserts, set up the room, serve and clean up.

RCCR Beans & Cornbread Dinner will be held at 6 p.m. Nov. 15 at the Baptist Temple on the corner of Quarrier and Morris streets. Tickets are $60 and may be purchased at RCCR, 1516 Washington St. E., from board members and from member congregations. The price is 90 percent tax-deductible. Call 304-346-6398 or email rccr@rccr.org.